Expansion-box and key for water or gas plugs



o o e M. J KALLAHBR- & J. MULROONEY.

EXPANSION BOX ANIYKEY POE WATER `0R GAS PLUGS.

Patented Nov.'5, 1889.`

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UNITED STATES PATENT rrlcn.'

' MICHAEL J. KALLAIIER AND JOHN' MULROONEY, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

EXPANSION-Box AND' KEY? Fon WATER on GAS PLUGS.

sPnoIFicA'rIoN forming para; of Lttersratent'no. 414,546, dated November 5, 1889.

Application filed May Y and JOHN MULROONEY, citizens of the United States, residing` at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in EX- tension -Boxes and Keys for Tater or Gas Plugspf which the following is a specification.

Our present invention is designed as an improvement over the device shown in our application, Serial No. 286,409, filed SeptemberV 2G, 1888, to which reference may be had for an understanding of I any features not fully explained here.

The invention consists in features of novelty, which will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and will then be more specifically pointed out inthe claims hereto annexed.

In the said drawings, Figure I is a vertical section of the device; and Fig. II is a bottom view of the cap, hereinafter referred to.

1 2 represent the upper and lower telescopic sections of the extensible box, and 3 is the service-pipe, passing through the usual opening in the foot of the section 2, and having the shut-off plug 4, provided with a turningkey 5. In the device shown in our aforesaid application the lower section 2 is provided with an upper and lower internal flange or diaphragm; but in our present invention we do away with the upper diaphragm and employhut the lower one 6, through which passes a tenon or journal 7 of the concentrically-located elongated key-socket 8. This journal 7 has a prismatic end 9, which is jammed into a complementary socket in the wrench 10, fitting overthe key 5 of the shut-oif plug. The journal 7 being smaller than the key-socket 8, it forms on the latter a shoulder 11, which rests upon the diaphragm 6, and thus prevents the socket from slipping downward,

' while the wrench lO prevents it from being withdrawn upward. This keysocket has an elongated prismatic cavity 12, terminating at its upper end in a Haring mouth 13, which is of sufficient diameter to iill the mouth of the lower section 2, and thus serve the purpose of the upper diaphragm in our former application--that is to say, it holds the upper end of the key-socket coucentrically within the Serial No..3l1f,l05. (No model.)

f 1 section 2, while at the same time it permits of free revolution of the socket S. The main 0bject and purpose of the mouth 13, however, is to guide the key 23 into the socket 12.

The upper end of the section 1 is provided with an annular flange or rim 15 and with two lugs .or projections 16, which latter, however, extend but a slight portion of the way around its edge. A solid dat cap 17 is fitted upon the upper end of the section 1, and has a downwardly-projecting annular iiange or rim 18, which rests upon the flange 15,'while the body of the cap rests upon the upper end ofthe body of the section 1. As shown in Fig. II, the cap 17 has two lugs or projections 19, which are in all respects similar to the lugs '16 on the section 1, with the exception that they project inward and are sufficiently low down on the rim 1S to engage under the lugs 16 when the cap is turned, and thus lock itin place. In the center of this cap is a countersink 20, which has in its bottom an annular aperture surrounded by an upward ly projecting boss 21, which forms a seat for a washer 22, and which, together with said washer, serves to exclude dirt that might wash with rain-water from entering the interior of the box. Through this washer passes the prisniatic key 23, engaging in theprismatic interior of the key-socket 8 at its lower end, while its upper end is provided with a prismatic turning-head 24: for the application of a wrench or key. The countersink in the cap is made only sufficiently large to admit the wrench or key around the head 24:, and such head projects upward far enough to be exactly flush with the surface of the cap, and the cap itself is let into the pavement sufficiently deep to be iiush with the surface of the pavement, so that the whole exposed surface of the cap will be practically fiat and there will be nothing to act as an obstruction to the feet of pedestrians, as is the case with devices provided with removable covers, for the covers frequently become detached and broken and the box is left in an unsightly as well as dangerous condition, whereas with 4our device it is never necessary to remove the cover in order to4 operate the cutoff plug, and at the same time the key-head 24: is out of the way, while yet it is exposed to plain sight and readily accessible.

The box may be adj usted to the proper height, and then the key 23 is cut the requisite length and put in place, where it is held from being withdrawn by a pin or wire 25, passing through it just below the bottom of v the cap. The cap is provided on the outside with lugs 26, which facilitate in releasing it from the box.

Having thus described our invention, the following is what we claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination, with the upper and lower extensible sections and the plug-key 5, of the key-socket 8, located within said sections, a Wrench secured to said socket 8 and engaging over the key 5, and said socket hav- ,ing a flaring mouth 13, filling one of said sections, for holding the socket 8 concentric with the box, and a kejv engaging in said socket, substantially as set forth.

- 2. The combination, with tlie upper and l lower extensible sections 1 2, of a diaphragm located Within said lower section,akey-s'ocket socket having a flaring mouth located within the lower section and forming a guide for the key and serving to hold the Socket concentric with said lower section, substantially.

as set forth.

3, In a box for street-plugs, the combination, with the upper section 1, of a fiat cap V fitted thereon, forming the en tire exposed surface of said bon/r, and having the perforated countersink, the key 23, projecting through said perforation, a key-head on said key projecting upward so as tobe flush with the surface of said cap, the lower section, and the key socket in the lower section, in which said-key engages, substantially as set forth.

M. J. KALLAHER.-

JNO. MULROONEY.

Witnesses:

J. J. KEENAN, G. GARNER.

It is hereby certified that the title of the invention described in Letters Patent No. 414,546, granted November 5, 1889, upon the applica-tion of lMichael J. Kelleher end John Mulrooney, of Memphis, Tennessee, should have been Written and printed Extension-Boxes and Keys for Water or Gas Plugs, instead of Expzmsiori-Boxes77 and Keys fori/Vater or Gas Plugs; and that the said Letters Patent should be read With this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Oee.

Signed, eountersigned and sea-led this 19th dey of November, A. D. 1889.

[SEAL] eYRUs BUssEY,

Assistant Secretary of the Interior. Countersigned:

O. E. MITCHELL,

Commissioner of Patents.y 

